Right to Repair

They had a talk space yesterday night at Chaos Communication Congress. These three guys are modern heroes.

Follow up to https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/7760263

cross-posted from: https://derp.foo/post/544012

There is a discussion on Hacker News, but feel free to comment here as well.

Crossposted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/9698836

This setup allows Arduino to read temperature, control relay based on setpoints, display info on OLED screen, and manage date/time settings with user input through buttons. Adjust based on specific hardware/project requirements.

Designed to replace the faulty electronic control of a blue heat radiator.

Code and simulation at Wokwi

Licensed under GNU GPLv3.

Hopefully this will help lower objections to getting devices repaired

Tldr from lawrence@lemmy.world

Kytch, a startup, developed a device to fix McDonald's ice cream machines but faced opposition after a 2020 McDonald's email warning against its use, citing safety concerns. Kytch alleges this move, influenced by machine manufacturer Taylor, was to undermine them as a competitor. Recent litigation reveals an email from Taylor's CEO suggesting action against Kytch, which Kytch claims as evidence of a plot to sabotage their business.

Despite Taylor and McDonald's denials, Kytch continues legal action, asserting the email demonstrates a coordinated effort to eliminate competition.

The situation is a heavy machinery example of something that happens across most categories of electronics, from phones, laptops, health devices, and wearables to tractors and, apparently, trains. In this case, NEWAG, the manufacturer of the Impuls family of trains, put code in the train’s control systems that prevented them from running if a GPS tracker detected that it spent a certain number of days in an independent repair company’s maintenance center, and also prevented it from running if certain components had been replaced without a manufacturer-approved serial number.

The problem was so bad that an infrastructure trade publication in Poland called Rynek Kolejowy picked up on the mysterious issues over the summer, and said that the lack of working trains was beginning to impact service: “Four vehicles after level P3-2 repair cannot be started. At this moment, it is not known what caused the failure. The lack of units is a serious problem for the carrier and passengers, because shorter trains are sent on routes.”

Very good article, I'd recommend reading it. I hope the court rules against NEWAG and sets a precedent for right to repair.

In a forceful, 89-page memorandum, U.S. District Court Judge Iain Johnson wrote that the founder of John Deere “was an innovative farmer and blacksmith who—with his own hands—fundamentally changed the agricultural industry.” Deere the man “would be deeply disappointed in his namesake corporation” if the plaintiffs can ultimately prove their antitrust allegations against Deere the company, which are voluminous and well-documented.

judge ruling pdf

Polish article

From https://lemmy.world/post/9227800

Train manufacturer intentionally bricks trains serviced by independent service providers

Polish train manufacturer that lost servicing tender programmed train controller to brick itself after train stays for some time in 6 ISP facilities or in 1 their faculity(for testing?) until undocumented button combination is pressed. Some controller versions brick itself after train is idle for 10 days. After news about this became public, manufacturer removed ability to unlock train by button combination.

Also manufacturer is able to remotely brick train over internet(connected via GSM) at any time.

Tesla released the service manuals for their original Roadster yesterday, pretty rare to come across any kind of service manual nowadays. Great for R2R!

https://service.tesla.com/roadster

A pretty comprehensive video by Hugh Jeffreys covering how Apple has been restricting repairability in their devices, even before 2012.

P.S. Apple's iPhones may be exempt from California's R2R bill, apparently they slipped an exemption in there for "waterproof portable devices" 🤦‍♂️

Full text of the ballot initiative: https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/2/21/Right_to_Repair_Leg_FINAL.pdf

Let's hope they actually mean it. It could be cheaper than having different skews, but it's good news nevertheless.

There don't seem to be any obvious loop holes letting companies get out of it. But this is the bill Apple is supporting now, so from their track record, they've likely found some loop hole.

A group representing L. Ron Hubbard asked the Copyright Office to alter a repair exemption that makes it legal to hack Scientology's E-Meter—and lots of other electronics, too.

iFixit tears down a Taylor ice cream machine and finds that it overheats often, takes hours to restart, and these issues are impossible to fix because of locked down software and terrible error messages. No wonder, since Taylor makes 25% of its money charging $315 per 15 minutes for their exclusive repairs.

Video

I guess appealing to gut feelings scare factor is more effective at fighting Right to Repair than convoluted logical justification attempts.

Apple is one of the worst companies about being able to repair products. They've gotten several bills failed or neutered to not do anything. We don't know yet, but they are likely trying for a neutering amendment here to keep control over the process. I'd love to be proven wrong, but all we have to go on is prior experience.

Dear Right to Repair

I have a 10 year old dumb phone (keypad phone).

Has anyone unlocked their dumb phone ?

If so, could you tell me how you did it please ?

Yours sincerely ROMMMELLL

Quote from the John Deere representative:

Here's what happens. Deere sees another company doing this (offering a better/cheaper GPS than theirs) in a year from now they say screw it, we'll rewrite the software so everyone's gotta update their globe (control for tractors) for it to keep working.

Dear Right to Repair

I have a Samsung GT-E3210 (semi-dumb phone) made about 2013.

I have had the phone since new.

It has a lock on it. I don't know how it got there. I don't even know what it is. I would like to remove it.

SUMMARY

1. My SIM card works in other phones without a PIN.

2. My phone works, with this SIM card, without a PIN.

3. My phone will not accept another SIM card (even if the correct SIM PIN for that new SIM card is entered).

4. When a new SIM card is inserted the phone says SIM LOCK and asks for a PASSWORD.

5. With my usual SIM card inserted, SETTINGS shows SIM LOCK ON. If I select it, it asks for a SIM PASSWORD.

6. With no SIM card in the phone, SETTINGS says SIM LOCK ON. If I select it, it asks me to INSERT SIM CARD.

ELABORATION

My GT-E3210 has worked for many years with the same old BIG SIM card in it.

I have never programmed a PIN into this old BIG SIM card. I have never used a PIN in connection with this old BIG SIM card.

The phone does not require a PIN when I turn it on each day, or when I re-insert this old BIG SIM card. I have never programmed any kind of security into the phone.

If any other SIM card is placed in it, however, it will not function.

When I tried a new SIM card, the following words filled the screen,

SIM LOCK

(a padlock symbol)

PASSWORD

(a space to enter password)

(and 2 options above the soft keys : CONFIRM and EMERGENCY)

When I entered the verified SIM PIN for this new SIM card it said,

INCORRECT PASSWORD

When I go to SETTINGS > SECURITY I see that one of the four LOCK's is on : SIM LOCK ON.

When I highlight SIM LOCK ON and press the centre button (with my usual old BIG SIM card in the phone) the following words fill the bottom half of the screen

SIM PASSWORD

8 DIGITS

PASSWORD

(a space to enter password)

(and 2 options above the soft keys : OK and CANCEL)

BUT, if there is no SIM card in the phone, when I highlight SIM LOCK ON and press the centre button, it says only

INSERT SIM CARD

TWO QUESTIONS please.

Q1. What is this SIM LOCK ?

Q2. What are my options to turn it off or remove it ?

I would be grateful for any help you could give me.

Yours sincerely ROMMMELLL

I am looking for a new computer and am considering a Tuxedo Laptop. Do you know how easy they are to repair and upgrade? I enjoy my Fairphone too much to her an unrepairable Notebook.

Replaceable batteries may came back.

Copied from the technology thread:

No surprises here. Just like the lockdown on iPhone screen and part replacements, Macbooks suffer from the same Apple's anti-repair and anti-consumer bs. Battery glued, ssd soldered in and can't even swap parts with other official parts. 6000$ laptop and you don't even own it.

Fix tons of things from macbooks to trucks to cameras. I think they have something like a hundred thousand guides.

Many companies are making their things harder to fix, but from what I've seen, IFixIt has been pretty fast to try and circumvent them.